As an Assistant Principal at a K-8 charter school, my husband recently mentioned that there is a block in their middle school schedule for RTI (Response to Intervention) with students struggling to be proficient. He asked me what I would recommend for helping the teachers structure this time, as the educators who run it take... Continue Reading →
Wake Up Call
Getting ready for school in the morning is such a busy time. Especially if you have 3 kids in 3 schools and you and your husband are both also educators. Do the math...that’s 5 people in 5 schools with 5 different schedules! Yikes! So, needless to say, I’ve not been exactly on it with our... Continue Reading →
Shortcuts to Deeper Learning
Parental confession time: I don’t always interact with my children when they are doing ScootPad. For me, it’s time to get other things done around the house, with my child wonderfully engaged in thinking and learning. And the point of ScootPad is to provide independent practice across multiple areas. I love that about the platform,... Continue Reading →
Wishing I Were an Octopus
It’s not that I think I’m such an amazing teacher. I hope I’m a good teacher. I work hard at it and I’m deeply invested in it, but wishing I was an octopus is not about tooting my own horn...it’s about wishing I had more hands and arms to reach more kids. For those who... Continue Reading →
Rewarding my Over-Achievers
In my classroom I run a gamification platform. It’s not that we play games all the time, it’s just the framework I use with kids to help motivate them. In my classes they are not given a grade. And they don’t get homework. So how do I keep them wanting to advance and put in... Continue Reading →
Seeming Struggle or a Need for More Challenge?
Sometimes, I focus my teaching brainpower on a single student. Trying to problem solve a tricky kid can make my job a lot easier if the student can change the dynamic in the class or help a group be more productive. Also, when I think about a single student, it can sometimes change the way... Continue Reading →
3 Ways to Use ScootPad in the Classroom
For many people, ScootPad is an at-home platform to extend learning in school. I use it this way at our house, with my own children. My son has been doing ScootPad for years, when none of his teachers even knew about it! Since I’ve returned to the classroom, I’ve brought the power of ScootPad with me.... Continue Reading →
Intervention: Easy As Pie!
I admit, I was feeling pretty intimidated to try and “figure out” how to use the intervention feature on ScootPad. As anyone who knows me knows, I hate change. New things involve change. I know they bring new opportunities, but I am the kind who wades very slowly into the water. Such was my plan here:... Continue Reading →
The Test of Time
My son has been using ScootPad for a number of years now. I think we may have been one of the first people who signed up for it, as my son's name was available as his username without any numbers or additional letters. I won’t say he uses ScootPad everyday, but he does use it... Continue Reading →
Anticipating Future Excitement
Not all the kids I work with are equally excited about the work I give. Don’t get me wrong, I believe the content I teach and the means by which I teach it are pretty engaging. But some of my students simply engage in different means or manners. One thing I am excited about with... Continue Reading →